New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito revealed on Twitter today that she's been diagnosed with "high-risk HPV," and needs to get a biopsy as soon as possible.

HPV is an extremely common—yet still highly stigmatized—sexually-transmitted viral infection, which is linked to cervical cancer. (That's why you sometimes hear people refer to the HPV vaccine as a "cancer vaccine," and why the fight to vaccinate teenage girls before they become sexually active is so important.)

While it's certainly not Mark-Viverito's responsibility to use her own private life as a public teaching moment, her candor sends a powerful message.